News

Bayer acquires OTC business of Sagmel

Leverkusen – The Consumer Care Division of Bayer HealthCare has signed an agreement with U.S.-based Sagmel, Inc. to acquire that company’s over-the-counter (OTC) brand portfolio and related assets. Sagmel operates this business in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), which comprises Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and other countries, and holds a strong market position in the region. The acquisition will substantially increase Bayer Consumer Care’s presence in eastern Europe, one of the world’s fastest growing otc markets. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2008.

The Sagmel portfolio, which delivered sales of roughly €78 million in the 12-month period starting in October 2006, includes the analgesic Theraflex®, the decongestant Nazol®, the hemorrhoid treatment Relief® and the nutritional brands Calcemin®, Theravit® and Jungle®. Together with the Bayer brands already established in this market, such as Aspirin®, Alka-Seltzer®, the antacid Rennie® and the vitamin products Supradyn®, Biovital® and Elevit®, the acquired products will help Bayer HealthCare to further strengthen its market position in the cis countries.